The 11th annual Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF) Golf Classic, held just outside Las Vegas, may have taken place on April Fool’s Day, but with 111 industry professionals playing golf to raise money for an important cause, fools were in short supply.
Entering its second decade as the sole fundraising event for AIREF, a tax-exempt foundation supported by the Electronic Security Association (ESA), the annual golf tournament supports AIREF’s research and educational programs that benefit the security industry and help enhance public safety.
This year’s event was the first tournament for two new co-chairs, Keith Baird of Honeywell Security, Melville, N.Y., and Mike Harrison of Hillcrest Davidson, Richardson, Texas. AIREF says the two brought their own brand of excitement to the event this year. For example, golf entertainer and long-drive specialist Nyle Pruitt made his debut at the tournament with a fun and memorable program for appreciative participants, and raised $4,675 for the foundation as a result.
“The tournament is always enjoyable, and it continues to provide significant proceeds for the foundation,” said AIREF Treasurer Jamie Orvis, owner of Norwalk, Conn.-based Security Solutions. “For this we are extremely thankful. The generosity of our industry colleagues is inspirational and rewarding.”